Heritage Committee has rejected the proposal to shift the 85-year old Parliament building after an audit carried out by fire safety officials and others highlighted that the building was unsafe.

Central Public Works Department (CPWD), which maintains the building, also drew attention of the “wear and tear” as a major concern.

The committee at a meeting remained firm that relocation was not acceptable and instead decided to hire an architect to present a “de-congestion plan”.

This will suggest how to remove encroachments, modernize fire safety and other equipment, and recalibrate facilities like air-conditioning ducts and extensive cabling that were added to allow television broadcasts of Parliament sessions.

It was reported that no objection certificate (NOC) for the building was not issued for almost 60 years.
The Heritage Committee, which was formed in 2009 and includes senior MPs like Kamal Nath and LK Advani.

The Parliament building, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker, was completed in 1927, six years after construction began.(With Agency inputs)